Tulunan

 
Tulunan

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Official Title: Bituan Zone of Life. Nabundasan Zone of Life, Sitio Miatub Zone of Life (Brgy. Tuburan) & Sitio New Alimodian Zone of Life (Brgy. Banayal).

Location and Geographic Coverage
Tulunan Municipality in Cotabato Province.  The Tulunan peace zone consists of four communities:  two villages (barangays) and two hamlets (sitios).  The peace zone member territories are Barangay Bituan, Barangay Nabundasan, Sitio New Alimodian, and Sitio Matub (short for Miag-ao and Tuburan) (Rodil 2003). 

Brief Description
The peace zone that started in Barangay Bituan in Tulunan municipality, North Cotabato province was established as a direct response to the conflict between the NPA and AFP from 1983 to 1989 (Rodil 2003). But it must be noted that even prior to this, the region was already subjected to violence from various feuding groups, and the activities of a vigilante group called Tadtad (from the verb meaning “to chop into smaller pieces”) during the Marcos regime (Avruch and Jose 2007). As the conflict between the NPA and AFP intensified, killings of innocent civilians and burning of houses became a common occurrence. The deteriorating situation forced the residents of Bituan, New Alimodian, and Lampagang to abandon their farms and homes and evacuated to safer areas. After several forced evacuations, the villagers held a general assembly and discussed the setting up a ceasefire zone. With the support of the local church, the residents eventually declared a Zone of Life in North Cotabato in November 1989, which was subsequently formalized through a resolution in February 1990 that called on all armed actors (AFP, NPA, local militias) to respect the peace zone. However, after a period of respecting the zone of peace, on April 14, 1990 the NPA launched an attack on the AFP stationed in Barangay Bituan killing three soldiers, which drew a heavy armed response from the military. Despite this, the residents still persisted in their peace efforts. On March 17, 1992, the leaders of Bituan, Nabundasan, New Alimodian, and Miatub formed an inter-peace zone committee to coordinate the activities of the four pace zones. In 1993, amid the instability, the government awarded the Tuluan peace zone as a Special Development Area with corresponding funds. (Source: Rudy Rodil 2003, Avruch and Jose in Hancock and Mitchell 2007).

Comments/ Updates
These became part of the group of seven ZoPs declared as Special Development Areas (SDAs) by President Ramos and awarded P0.7 million each for local development projects.  According to studies, the awarding of peace zones as SDA is a mixed blessing. The influx of funding that comes with the SDA status caused rivalries within and among communities and local governments, which led to instability (Avruch and Jose 2007; Lee 2000).

Policy Instruments and Declarations (source Soliman Santos 2005):

• Barangay Bituan Resolution Asking to Make Barangay Bituan, A Peace Zone (25 November 1989)
  
• Statement of the National Democratic Front-North Cotabato on the Proposed Zone of Peace in Tulunan (31 January 1990) [translated from Cebuano]
  
• Resolution of the Residents of Tuburan and Nabundasan (__ February 1991) [translated from Ilonggo]
  
• Third Resolution Declaring Miatub, Sitio of Barangay Tuburan, as a Peace Zone (25 February 1991) [translated from Ilonggo]
  
• Letter of National Democratic Front Far South Region Media Liaison Officer Raul Tan to Whom It May Concern (13 September 1991) [translated from Cebuano]
  
• Open Letter of NDF-Far South Region Media Liaison Officer Raul Tan to All Who Love and Desire Peace (5 November 1991) [translated from Cebuano]
  
• Barangay Banayal Resolution No. 26, Series of 1991, Resolution Requesting the Office of the Municipal Mayor, Josue Faustino, Tulunan, North Cotabato, to Declare Sitio New Alimodian, Barangay Banayal, a New Peace Zone (7 December 1991)
  
• Barangay Nabundasan Resolution No. 01, Series of 2003, Resolution to Petition Requesting the Peace Commission Manila to Take Action Regarding the Peace and Order Condition of Barangay Nabundasan, Tulunan, Cotabato (22 November 2003)
  
• Sitio Miatub Peace Zone Council Resolution No. 001, Series of 2003, Resolution Declaring the Adopted and Approved Renewed, Redefined Sitio Miatub Peace Zone Council (20 December 2003)
  
• Bituan Peace Zone Inter Sectoral Council Resolution No. 01, Series of 2004, Resolution Amending the Provisions of Bituan Peace Zone (14 January 2004)
  

Other Details:

• Ethnic Mix: Indigenous immigrants originally from Iloilo in Panay; languages Illonggo & Kinaray-a.
• Date of Establishment: February 27 1990
• Traditional Political Affiliation: Seen by military as sympathetic to NPA
• Trigger Events: After the seventh forced evacuation of the baranguays, members of three involved villages met and passed a resolution setting up the peace zone and calling on all Local Armed Actors to respect the zone.
• Persons/organizations involved in establishment: Barangay officials of the communities affected by the conflict, the local parish, and NGOs.
• Leadership: Governor Diaz, Representative Gregorio Andolana, Church representatives, Barangay officials of peace zone communities.
• Supporters: Development organisations subsequently able to undertake work in peace zone. Office of the Peace Commission coordinating relations between locals and AFP. Governor took the lead in negotiations with AFP.
• Declared objectives: To be a “…shelter of respite from the uncertainty of life in the middle of combat situations between government troopers and the New People’s Army guerrillas…”
• Arrangements with LAA’s : Members of AFP and NPA may enter but only if unarmed. A weapons free and alcohol free zone.
• Significant Events: In Bituan, following a brief “honeymoon” period, on April 14 1990 [“Black Sunday”] NPA launched attack on AFP killing 3 soldiers then burning their corpses [while later stating that this was not “meant to jeopardise the peace zone”]. Army counter-attacked & instituted food blockade, later lifted through good offices of Church and OPC. Serious doubts on all sides regarding efficacy of zone but inhabitants resolved never to evacuate area and to continue with peace efforts.

SOURCES:

Avruch, Kevin and Roberto S. Jose. “Peace Zones in the Philippines.” In Zones of Peace. Ed. Landon E. Hancock and Christopher Mitchell. USA: Kumarian Press, Inc., 2007.

Lee, Zosimo. “Peace Zones as special development areas: A preliminary assessment.” In Building Peace: Essays on Psychology and the Culture of Peace. Ed. A.B.I. Bernardo and C.D. Ortigas. Manila: De La Salle University Press, 2000.

Rodil, B.R. A Story of Mindanao and Sulu in Question and Answer. Davao: MINCODE, 2003.

Santos, Soliman Jr. M. Peace Zones in the Philippines: Concept, Policy, and Instruments. Quezon City: Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute and The Asia Foundation, 2005.

Last Updated:  October 8, 2013.